Indonesia faces China in Thomas Cup final<\/p>\n
By Primastuti Handayani<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (JP): The 8,000 spectators at the Putra Indoor
\nStadium here Friday burst into jubilation as Marlev Mainaky's
\nsmash hit the center of Kenneth Jonassen's court to take
\nIndonesia to the Thomas Cup championship final against China on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
Defending champion Indonesia overcame Denmark, another
\nfavorite, 3-2 in a very tense do-or-die match turning the Putra
\nstadium into another Senayan.<\/p>\n
Third singles Marlev, who is expecting to be a father for the
\nfirst time, managed to control his emotion in a very tense match
\nagainst Jonassen before winning it 15-14, 15-13.<\/p>\n
\"I was too careful in the beginning of the first game and it
\nresulted in too many unforced errors. I will be prepared to
\nbecome the decider in Sunday's final.\"<\/p>\n
China defeated South Korea 3-1 Thursday to book its berth in
\nthe championship match against Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia opened its victory by surprisingly partnering Rexy
\nMainaky and Tony Gunawan as the first doubles. They easily
\ntoppled world number eight pair of Martin Lundgaard Hansen and
\nLars Paaske 15-7, 15-3 in only 27 minutes.<\/p>\n
\"I think the Danish pair were unprepared for my partnership
\nwith Kak (big brother) Rexy. They seemed very tense and unable to
\nperform their best as they might have had they faced me and
\nCandra,\" said Tony.<\/p>\n
Despite his first partnership with Rexy, Tony said it was not
\na big problem for him as they usually partnered during training
\nat the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The 0-1 down and supporters boosted our motivation to give
\nour best effort,\" said Rexy, who directly called his children
\nafter the match.<\/p>\n
Teenage sensation Taufik Hidayat, performing before parents
\nand former coach Iie Sumirat, managed to fulfill his mission by
\novercoming the 1996 Olympic Games gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-
\nLarsen 15-11, 15-9 in 49 minutes.<\/p>\n
\"I think Poul-Erik was not at his best form, maybe because of
\nhis age and stamina. He was inconsistent from the beginning. He
\nlooked very emotional and I kept the pressure on him,\" said
\nTaufik, who defeated Hoyer-Larsen for the second time.<\/p>\n
\"I had a responsibility to win and I got very tense in the
\nbeginning when I was down 2-6. But I managed to overcome the
\npressure with so much support behind me.\"<\/p>\n
Soon after the match, Taufik apologized to the 34-year-old
\nDane for his purposeful attitude on court.<\/p>\n
Maestros<\/p>\n
The defeat of Hendrawan, world number two, by world number one
\nPeter Gade Christensen, was a sensational match between two
\nbadminton maestros.<\/p>\n
The 87-minute match was toughly fought with the lead seesawing
\nbetween both players. Hendrawan's neat netting and Gade
\nChristensen's leaping smashes were spectacular. Their head-to-
\nhead is now 2-1 for the Dane.<\/p>\n
As the grueling contest wore on, Hendrawan, who will turn 28
\nnext month, began to struggle with his fitness especially in the
\ndecisive third game.<\/p>\n
\"That is the best I could give to my country. I was
\ndisappointed after I failed to win the second game because that
\nwas my very best chance to win,\" Hendrawan told the press.<\/p>\n
\"I didn't play under pressure. I think Peter was more tense as
\nI enjoyed the spectators support. It's a matter of luck.\"<\/p>\n
\"I lost my touch in the third game when he was leading 8-5 but
\nI regained my confidence when the score was 14-9 and I managed to
\nnarrow 11-14. Unfortunately, it was too far to catch up. If only
\nhe was only leading 12-11, I still had a second chance to win.\"<\/p>\n
\"Peter knew that he must expend my energy in the third game.
\nHe did that. I have to admit that my physical fitness was not as
\ngood as his.\"<\/p>\n
The second doubles of Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, the
\n1997 world champion, spoiled a good chance to win after leading
\n15-8 in the first game and 10-5 in the second game against world
\nnumber four Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen.<\/p>\n
Sigit, playing for Indonesia for the first time since the ban,
\nwas unable to handle the pressure as he made numerous unforced
\nerrors in the second game before losing 15-17.<\/p>\n
In the do-or-die match, both doubles tied 16-16 but it was not
\ntoo be. The Danes won 17-16 with a gutsy performance, setting up
\nthe heroics of Marlev.<\/p>\n
Results<\/p>\n
Indonesia 3, Denmark 2: Tony Gunawan\/Rexy Mainaky (Ina) bt
\nMartin Lundgaard-Hansen\/Lars Paaske (Den) 15-7, 15-3; Taufik
\nHidayat (Ina) bt Poul-Erik Hoyer (Den) 15-11, 15-9; Peter Gade
\n(Den) bt Hendrawan (Ina) 12-15, 17-16, 15-11; Jesper Larsen\/Jens
\nEriksen (Den) bt Candra Wijaya\/Sigit Budiarto (Ina) 8-15, 17-15,
\n17-16; Marleve Mainaky (Ina) bt Kenneth Jonassen (Den) 15-14, 15-13.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-faces-china-in-thomas-cup-final-1447893297",
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